Our People in QLD
Alisha Efford - Sisters united in Bundaberg recovery
Townsville based Trooper Alisha Efford was very disappointed when she had to miss her sister Natasha’s wedding in Bundaberg this Australia Day because the weather turned nasty but a few days later the pair did manage to catch up, although not in the circumstances you’d expect.
“My sister is a paramedic with the Queensland Ambulance Service posted to Bundaberg so when the floods hit she was called into work to help out. I’ve been at 5th Aviation Regiment for just two weeks and ended up heading to Bundaberg on the Monday with the Army Blackhawk Helicopters to help with the floods as well” said Alisha
When Alisha arrived during the night at Bundaberg Airport, sister Natasha was on shift ready to receive any injured people being evacuated. Natasha recalled that she felt so proud seeing her younger sister in uniform emerge from the Blackhawk.
“Everything that was going on in the area was just so devastating and to see her just made my day.” said Natasha.
Natasha and husband Luke’s home suffered only minor damage from flood waters but their post-wedding break from work and the kids had to be put on hold as Luke, a local school teacher and SES volunteer, also had to assist with the floods.
“We were meant to be taking the weekend off in Bargara after the wedding but the hotel we were going to had been flooded out, had no power and we couldn’t get through the roads.”
The girls and family managed to catch up sporadically over the course of the operation with the Blackhawks continually evacuating locals and the QLD Ambulance Service treating members of the community as required.
Despite the circumstances, the chance to get out and contribute has been Alisha’s favourite part of the operation and she is looking forward to future challenges in her Defence career.
“I’m pretty happy to see where it takes me. I would love to do a trip overseas in the future.” said Alisha.
The girls also have two other sisters in Defence with the youngest of the four girls, Teanna, currently undergoing recruit training at Kapooka and Alisha offering her words of support. “I told her ‘if I can do this, you can do this’. She’s a tough little nugget!”
The Blackhawk detachment departed Bundaberg in early February with Alisha saying farewell to Natalie who has remained on shift supporting the flood relief effort and is hoping to catch up with her sister in Townsville in the near future.